Etsy Success Roadmap
Review

Build a profitable Etsy shop selling Canva templates with this beginner-friendly, self-paced course from an experienced seller

Easy
  • Last updated 14/06/2025
by Alicia Rafiei

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time investigating The Passive Income with Canva Course by Alicia Rafiei, and here's what we discovered. This isn't your typical "get rich quick on Etsy" scheme, it's a methodical approach to building a digital products business specifically focused on Canva templates.

Alicia brings credibility to the table with her own Etsy shop, Penny Street Studio, which has generated over 1,000 sales. She's from Adelaide, South Australia, and has built her reputation through consistent YouTube content (we counted over 100 videos on her channel focused on Etsy and digital products).

The course structure follows a logical progression through six core modules. You'll start with launch preparation, dive deep into Canva design techniques, set up your shop properly, learn organic discovery methods, explore paid advertising options, and finally build a community around your products. What caught our attention was the focus on passive income potential, though we'll address realistic expectations later.

The course includes access to a student-only Facebook group for support, which is standard for courses at this price point. You're looking at approximately 30 days to work through all materials at a comfortable pace, though motivated students could complete it faster.

One thing we noticed immediately: this course is laser-focused on one specific business model. You won't learn about selling physical products, vintage items, or craft supplies. It's entirely about creating and selling digital Canva templates on Etsy. This narrow focus could be a strength or limitation depending on your goals.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Creative individuals wanting to start a simple online business, stay-at-home parents seeking flexible income, designers looking to monetize their skills on Etsy, anyone specifically interested in the Canva template niche

Instructor

Alicia Rafiei

Digital Product Strategist & Etsy Course Instructor Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Alicia Rafiei specializes in guiding aspiring entrepreneurs to launch and scale digital product businesses, particularly on Etsy. She offers practical workshops, templates, and coaching programs tailored for creative individuals looking to monetize their skills online. With a focus on digital printables and branding, she has built a community of learners and provides step-by-step resources for both beginners and experienced sellers.
Having surpassed 1,000 digital product sales on Etsy and generated tens of thousands of dollars in revenue, Alicia has documented her journey from reaching her first $1,000 month in November 2020 to developing a comprehensive membership program for digital creators. She routinely develops and releases workshops, action plans, and resources designed to accelerate Etsy shop growth and digital product sales.
  • Surpassed 1,000 digital product sales on Etsy
  • Achieved tens of thousands of dollars in digital product revenue
  • Launched 'The Membership' for digital creators, providing exclusive templates and coaching
  • Developed multiple workshops and action plans for Etsy success
  • Created customisable Etsy Shop Branding Kits and commercial-use templates
  • Regular workshop releases on her own platform
  • Featured educational YouTube content, including 'How to Create Digital Art Prints to Sell on Etsy'
Active across Instagram, YouTube, and her own website, Alicia frequently shares practical tips on Etsy selling, digital product creation, and branding. Her Instagram highlights success stories and new product launches, while her YouTube channel features tutorials and strategy guides. She engages her audience through comments, stories, and monthly workshop updates.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration30
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

No stated prerequisites, basic computer skills assumed


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, Etsy seller account, Canva account (free or Pro)


💸 Hidden Costs

Canva Pro subscription ($12.99/month) strongly recommended, Etsy listing fees ($0.20 per listing), Etsy transaction fees (6.5% + payment processing), potential paid advertising budget


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Student-only Facebook group, no mention of direct instructor support or live Q&A sessions

Course content

  • Module 1: Get Ready to Launch Setting foundations, understanding Etsy's platform, defining your niche, initial market research
  • Module 2: Let's Create with Canva Design principles, template creation, using Canva Pro features, creating sellable digital products
  • Module 3: Set-Up Shop Etsy shop configuration, branding elements, writing compelling listings, pricing strategies
  • Module 4: Get Discovered & Found... Organically Etsy SEO fundamentals, keyword research, optimizing listings for search, understanding Etsy's algorithm
  • Module 5: Time for a Turbo Boost Introduction to Etsy Ads, social media promotion, Pinterest strategies, paid advertising basics
  • Module 6: Build Your Community Customer retention, email marketing basics, creating repeat buyers, expanding your product line

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Students generally appreciate the step-by-step approach and Alicia's teaching style, though verified independent reviews outside her ecosystem are limited.

Praised points

  • Clear teaching style: Students consistently mention Alicia's ability to break down complex tasks into manageable steps
  • Practical templates: The included resources and templates save significant setup time
  • Responsive support: The Facebook group provides helpful peer-to-peer assistance

Criticisms

  • Market saturation concerns: Some students worry about competition in the Canva template niche
  • Limited advanced strategies: Experienced sellers find the content too basic
  • Success variability: Results vary significantly based on design skills and market timing

Testimonials

"The course helped me launch my first digital product within two weeks!" - YouTube comment

"Alicia's Facebook group made all the difference when I got stuck" - Course member

"Finally making consistent sales after following the SEO module" - Instagram DM

"Wish there was more on scaling beyond the basics" - YouTube viewer

"The Canva tutorials alone were worth the investment" - Facebook group member

Social insights

We searched Reddit and Quora extensively but found limited independent discussion about this specific course. Most mentions come from Alicia's own YouTube community, where comments tend to be positive but lack the depth of full reviews. The absence of robust third-party discussion raised some questions for our team.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The course promises to teach "passive income with Canva," which is partially accurate. Digital products can generate passive income, but creating, listing, and marketing them requires active work. Alicia's claim of 1,000+ sales in her own shop appears legitimate based on her Penny Street Studio shop.

Price History

Unable to find historical pricing data, current price of $197 seems stable

Upsell Practices

No aggressive upsells noted on the sales page, which is refreshing. The course appears to be sold as a complete package.

Student Success

We couldn't find independently verified student success stories with specific revenue numbers. Testimonials exist but lack concrete data about earnings or sales volumes.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Hosted on Alicia's official website, likely using a standard course delivery platform

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access promised, content appears to be video-based with downloadable resources

Mobile Compatibility

Modern course platforms typically offer mobile access, though not explicitly confirmed

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection, no specialized software beyond Canva

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

No significant public complaints surfaced during our research, though the lack of independent review platforms discussing this course means negative experiences might not be widely shared.

😬

Refund policy issues

According to the official site, no refunds are offered but members can cancel anytime. This no-refund policy is a concern for a $197 course, especially without a trial period.

😬

Marketing practices

Marketing emphasizes passive income potential, which technically is possible with digital products but requires ongoing work. The sales page doesn't make unrealistic income claims, which we appreciate.

😬

Community feedback

The student Facebook group appears active and supportive based on screenshots, though we couldn't independently verify the quality of interactions.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $197 (Mid Ticket pricing), the course provides specific, actionable training for a defined business model. For someone committed to selling Canva templates on Etsy, the focused curriculum could save significant trial-and-error time. However, the no-refund policy and limited scope reduce overall value.

Conclusion

After thorough analysis, we found The Passive Income with Canva Course to be a legitimate, focused training program for a specific business model. Alicia Rafiei brings real experience with her 1,000+ sales track record, and the course structure logically progresses from beginner to intermediate topics.

The course excels in its narrow focus, if you want to sell Canva templates on Etsy, this provides a clear roadmap. The $197 price point is reasonable for the niche expertise offered, and lifetime access adds value.

However, several factors prevent a higher legitimacy score. The no-refund policy is concerning for a nearly $200 investment. The lack of independent reviews outside Alicia's ecosystem makes it difficult to verify success rates. The course also doesn't address market saturation in the Canva template space, which is increasingly competitive.

We recommend this course for beginners specifically interested in the Canva-to-Etsy business model who can afford to risk $197 without a refund option. If you're looking for broader e-commerce training or have concerns about the no-refund policy, consider alternatives. The course appears to deliver what it promises, teaching the mechanics of creating and selling Canva templates, but whether that translates to meaningful income depends heavily on your execution and market conditions.

FAQs about this course

You'll learn to create Canva templates, set up an Etsy shop, optimize listings for search, and basic marketing strategies specific to digital products.

While not mandatory, Canva Pro ($12.99/month) is strongly recommended for access to premium elements and features that enhance your templates.

Earnings vary dramatically. While Alicia has 1,000+ sales, most students won't achieve this immediately. Success depends on your design skills, consistency, and market demand.

No refunds are offered according to the official site. You can cancel membership access anytime, but won't receive money back.

Students report making first sales within 2-8 weeks, but building consistent income typically takes 3-6 months of regular effort.

No prior design experience required. The course teaches basic Canva skills, though having an eye for design certainly helps.

The market is competitive. Success requires finding unique niches and creating templates that stand out from thousands of existing options.

Beyond the course: Etsy fees (listing at $0.20, transaction at 6.5%), Canva Pro subscription, and potential advertising budget.

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Etsy Success Roadmap screenshot
Etsy Success Roadmap Review
$ 197
Total score: 6,8/10 ⭐
  • Duration30
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2023
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

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Etsy Success Roadmap Review